The present application claims the priority benefits of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2016/052566, filed Feb. 5, 2016, and claims benefit of DE 102015101755.5, filed on Feb. 6, 2015, which are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a crane, in particular a bridge crane or gantry crane, having at least one horizontally extending crane girder designed as a lattice girder having a plurality of struts, on which crane girder a crane trolley with a hoist can travel, wherein at least some of the struts have a sheetlike flat design and the flat struts each comprise a planar main surface which extends in each case transversely to a longitudinal direction of the crane girder.
A crane of this type is known from the German laid-open document DE 10 2012 102 808 A1. In this connection, the struts are disposed in pairs in the shape of a pitched roof and a vertically extending post is provided between the struts of each pair of struts. An upper boom and a lower boom of the crane girder are connected to one another via the struts and the posts. Furthermore, the struts have long sides with bent edges for stiffening purposes. The bent edges of the long sides mean that side surfaces are formed between lower first and upper second recesses and adjoin the main surfaces as so-called anti-buckling means, are bent at approximately a right angle with respect to the main surfaces and are oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of the crane girder.
In relation thereto, the supporting elements of a lattice construction which extend in an inclined or diagonal manner are generally considered to be struts. In this way the struts of a lattice construction differ from the supporting elements which extend purely vertically and are referred to as posts. Furthermore, the flat struts or planar struts preferably absorb forces in the direction of their longitudinal axis and therefore in the plane of extension of their planar main surface. Flat elements or flat supporting structures of this type are referred to in mechanics as disks, whereas flat elements loaded perpendicularly to their plane of extension or main surface are referred to as plates. Disks and therefore also the present planar struts differ e.g. from bars or bar-like posts and struts in that their thickness dimensions are substantially smaller than the length and width dimensions determining the planar extension of the disks. Consequently, flat struts are also referred to as planar struts or disk struts.
From US 2011/0247993 A1 a bridge crane is known having a crane girder designed as a lattice girder and comprising rod-like struts in a paired X-shaped arrangement.
DE 32 22 307 A1 discloses a bridge girder designed as a lattice girder, the flat struts of which are arranged in a paired x shape.
Further lattice girders are known from U.S. Pat. No. 327,360 A and DE 1 907 455 A.
The object of the invention is to provide a crane, in particular a bridge crane or gantry crane, having at least one improved crane girder.
In the case of one embodiment of a crane, in particular a bridge crane or gantry crane, having at least one horizontally extending crane girder designed as a lattice girder having a plurality of struts, on which crane girder a crane trolley with a hoist can travel, wherein at least some of the struts have a sheetlike flat design and the flat struts each comprise a planar main surface which extends in each case transversely to a longitudinal direction of the crane girder, the at least one crane girder is advantageously improved in such a way that at least one first strut and one second strut form a strut pair and are arranged in an X shape with respect to one another as seen transversely to the longitudinal direction of the crane girder.
In contrast to the known crane girders with a lattice construction, the crane girders improved in this manner are characterised in that no posts have to be used in order to ensure the required stability of the crane girder. In this way, the number of parts can consequently be reduced and material can be saved. At the same time, the torsional stiffness can be increased compared to the known lattice crane girders. The risk of the flat struts and individual regions of the crane girder buckling can also be reduced by the X-shaped arrangement of the intersecting struts.
In a constructionally simple manner, provision is made that the two struts of each strut pair each comprise a cut-out in one of the long sides thereof and the two struts are fitted together by means of the two cut-outs.
Simple manufacture of the crane is achieved in that the two struts of each strut pair are welded together in the region of the cut-outs.
In an advantageous manner, provision is also made for the cut-outs in the struts of each strut pair to be formed in such a way that the mutually allocated long sides of the struts arranged in an X shape are disposed in a flush arrangement. In this way, a particularly uniform and therefore secure mutual support of the two struts of each strut pair is achieved.
In a constructionally simple embodiment, provision is made for the cut-outs to extend starting from the respective long side in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the struts, preferably in a rectangular shape, in particular as far as the longitudinal axis, and to be disposed preferably in the region of half the strut length.
Furthermore, in an advantageous manner provision is made that on each long side of the struts, a first recess and a second recess is provided in the main surfaces, and the long sides of at least some of the flat struts are formed without bent edges between the first and second recesses. In this way, manufacturing outlay can be further reduced. By means of the preferably round recesses the main surface is narrowed transversely to the longitudinal axis, whereby the struts in these regions each form a type of membrane joint and effect optimised force flow through the strut. While in the case of conventional flat struts troublesome edge-bending or curving of the long sides is required in order to produce side surfaces between the first and second recesses or membrane joints, it is possible to dispense with this in the case of the flat struts without bent edges. In this way, the dimensions, particularly the length and width of the main surface extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the crane girder, can advantageously be freely selected merely by appropriate selection of the thickness of the sheet metal. Furthermore, owing to the omission of structurally unnecessary regions of sheet metal and an associated saving of material, the crane girders produced with the struts in accordance with the invention have a markedly reduced intrinsic weight while retaining optimised bearing capability.
In a further embodiment, provision is made for the long sides to be formed without bent edges over their entire length. In this way, manufacturing outlay can be further reduced.
In a constructionally simple manner, provision is made for the bent edge-free long sides to extend exclusively in a plane of the respective main surface.
The above-mentioned advantages can be enhanced further by forming the long sides of all struts without bent edges. Owing to the fact that for this purpose all struts have also a sheetlike flat design, in comparison with conventional lattice constructions all individually adapted bar-like struts or flat struts with side surfaces which are troublesome to produce can be replaced with unitary flat struts in accordance with the invention. This leads to a considerable manufacturing advantage since each flat strut is produced from a laser-cut sheet of steel without further troublesome manufacturing steps. The use of appropriate laser cutting alone makes it possible for the struts to be of any construction.
In an alternative improved embodiment, provision is made that on each long side of the struts, a first recess and a second recess is provided in the main surfaces, and at least one of the long sides of the struts of a strut pair has bent edges between a crossing region of the struts and the recesses, and comprises a side surface with bent edges which adjoins the main surface and preferably points transversely to the longitudinal direction of the crane girder. By means of the preferably round recesses the main surface is narrowed transversely to the longitudinal axis, whereby the struts in these regions each form a type of membrane joint and effect optimised force flow through the strut. The combination of the X-shaped arrangement of struts with membrane joints and additionally provided side surfaces as anti-buckling means improves the bearing capability and torsional stiffness of the crane girder, in particular in the case of large crane girder construction heights, and additionally reduces the risk of individual regions of the crane girder buckling.
In an advantageous manner, provision is made that each long side has bent edges between the crossing region and the recesses and comprises a side surface with bent edges which adjoins the main surface.
In a constructionally simple manner, provision is made for a further recess to be provided on the long side between the crossing region and each side surface. In this way, further membrane joints with the above-mentioned advantages are formed.
A bridge or gantry crane designed in a particularly advantageous manner in terms of construction and manufacturing technology is achieved in that the crane girder comprises at least one upper boom extending in a straight line in the longitudinal direction thereof and at least one lower boom disposed in parallel with the upper boom, wherein the upper boom and the lower boom are connected to one another via a plurality of struts disposed in the longitudinal direction of the crane girder.
In a further advantageous embodiment, provision is made for the crane to comprise two crane girders disposed in parallel and at a distance from one another.
An exemplified embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the drawings.
The description given below with the aid of a bridge crane also applies correspondingly for other types of cranes such as gantry cranes.
With first and second running gear units 7, 8 attached to its mutually opposing ends, the crane girder 2 of the crane 1 forms a crane bridge which is substantially in a double T shape as seen in a plan view. By means of the running gear units 7, 8, the crane 1 can travel in a horizontal travel direction F transversely to the longitudinal direction LR of the crane girder 2 on rails, not shown. The rails are disposed raised with respect to the ground in a conventional manner and for this purpose can be elevated, e.g. via a suitable support structure, or can be attached to mutually opposing building walls. In order to move the crane 1 or the crane girder 2 thereof, the first running gear unit 7 is driven by a first electric motor 7a and the second running gear unit 8 is driven by a second electric motor 8a. A crane trolley 9 is suspended on the crane girder 2 by a hoist formed as a cable pull, said crane trolley being able to travel by means of running gear units, not shown, transversely to the travel direction F of the crane 1 and in the longitudinal direction LR of the crane girder 2. The crane trolley 9 can travel along a lower boom 4 of the crane girder 2 and on running surfaces 4c protruding laterally therefrom. The crane 1 additionally comprises a crane control 10 and a pendant control switch 11 connected thereto, whereby the crane 1 and the electric motors 7a, 8a and the crane trolley 9 with the cable pull can be actuated and operated separately from one another. In this connection, a load picking-up means of the cable pull disposed on the crane trolley 9 can be raised and lowered.
In addition, the lattice construction of the crane girder 2 is terminated at the opposing ends of the upper boom 3 and of the lower boom 4 in each case via an end piece 6 (see
The upper boom 3 and the lower boom 4 each extend in a straight line, in parallel with and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction LR of the crane girder 2 between the running gear units 7, 8. In this connection, the upper boom 3 and the lower boom 4 are vertically spaced apart from one another. The upper boom 3 is composed of two first and second upper boom profiles 3d, 3e which are disposed in a horizontal plane and spaced apart from one another horizontally. The two upper boom profiles 3d, 3e are each formed from an L-shaped or angular profile girder with a limb 3a oriented vertically downwards and a horizontal flange 3f disposed at a right angle thereto. The flanges 3f of the upper boom profiles 3d, 3e preferably lie in a horizontal plane with an upper end face of the struts 5. In the same way, the lower boom is formed by two lower boom profiles 4d, 4e. The downwardly directed limbs 3a of the upper boom 3 and the upwardly directed limbs 4a of the lower boom 4 face one another. The spacing of the outermost edges of the upper boom 3 or of the lower boom 4 as seen in the longitudinal direction LR also produces a width B of the crane girder 2 (see
Proceeding from one of the two end pieces 6, as seen in the longitudinal direction LR of the crane girder 2, a plurality of strut pairs arranged in an X shape are provided and each comprise a first strut 5h and a second strut 5i. As seen in the longitudinal direction LR, the respective paired X-shaped arrangement of struts 5 is repeated until the opposite end in the form of the other end piece 6 of the crane girder 2 is reached.
The strut pair provided with reference signs by way of example in
In order to be able to be disposed in an X shape with respect to one another and in a mutually crossing manner, the two struts 5h and 5i of each strut pair each have a slot-shaped cut-out 5g (see
Each strut 5 is inclined at a setting angle α with respect to a notional vertical work plane which extends at a right angle to the upper boom 3 and lower boom 4 extending in parallel in the longitudinal direction LR. In this connection, the setting angle α is formed by the planar main surface 5a of the respective strut 5 and the work plane. For the sake of simplicity the setting angle α is marked between the main surface 5a and a reference line HL which lies in the work plane. The setting angle α is preferably in a range of 35° to 55° and is particularly preferably 45°. Depending on the length L of the crane girder 2 prior to assembly, the setting angle α is preferably determined such that an even number of struts 5 each of the same length and at the same setting angle α are used and all struts 5 can be disposed in an X shape in a corresponding manner.
The X-shaped arrangement of the struts 5 results in a correspondingly large number of upper junction points OK and lower junction points UK (see
The struts 5 are oriented within the lattice construction of the crane girder 2 in such a way that the main surface 5a thereof extends transversely to the longitudinal direction LR of the crane girder 2. Furthermore, the struts 5 are disposed with their lower first strut ends 5e between the two vertically upwardly directed limbs 4a of the lower boom 4. At their upper second strut ends 5f, the struts 5 are disposed between the two vertically downwardly directed limbs 3a of the upper boom 3. In this connection, the upper boom 3 lies with the inner sides of its limbs 3a and the lower boom 4 lies with the inner sides of its limbs 4a against long sides 5b of the struts 5 extending in parallel therewith. The struts 5 are welded to the limbs 3a, 4a along weld seams S formed at that location only in the region of their long sides 5b which are in corresponding contact (see
The struts 5 are formed as a sheet metal profile with an elongate form and a main surface 5a with a substantially rectangular cross-section. The struts 5 are preferably produced by laser cutting from a sheet of steel which forms the main surface 5a. The main surface 5a is substantially defined by long sides 5b extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis LA and extends along the longitudinal axis LA of the strut 5. At least in a middle region, the main surface 5a of the strut 5 with a strut width SB extends over at least half the width B of the crane girder 2 transversely to the longitudinal direction LR of the crane girder 2. The width B corresponds to the spacing between the outermost points, as seen in the longitudinal direction LR, of the lower boom 4 or—as in the case of the crane girder 2 shown in
In the region of the mutually opposing lower first and upper second strut ends 5e and 5f, in each case a lower first recess 5c and an upper second recess 5d respectively are provided on the two long sides 5b of the struts 5. A narrowing of the main surface 5a transversely to the longitudinal axis LA is produced by the recesses 5c, 5d in the region of each strut end 5e, 5f, whereby the struts 5 each form a type of membrane joint in these regions. The first and second recesses 5c, 5d are round, preferably in the form of an arc of a circle, and, with respect to the attachment of the struts 5 to the upper boom 3 or lower boom 4 of the crane girder 2 cause the force flow through the struts 5 welded on in the region of the strut ends 5e and 5f to be optimised and the weld seams S or the associated weld seam run-outs at that location to be relieved. For this purpose, the recesses 5c, 5d are located preferably outside the limbs 3a, 4a but adjoin them.
In the view shown in
Furthermore, each cut-out 5g is central with respect to the whole strut length, i.e. disposed in the region of half the strut length on one of the two long sides 5b. Alternatively, it is also feasible for the cut-out 5g to be disposed off-centre with respect to the whole strut length and accordingly also for the crossing region KB not to be disposed half the way up the X-shaped strut pair.
Furthermore, on the lower first strut end 5e and/or the upper second strut end 5f, rectangular slots (not shown) can be provided in the main surface 5a in order thereby to place the struts 5 onto the limbs 3a and 4a respectively prior to welding onto the upper boom 3 and lower boom 4 respectively. It is likewise feasible for the two limbs 3a or the two limbs 4a not to be disposed at the same distance from one another and then also for the long sides 5b to be correspondingly spaced apart at different distances from one another in the region of the strut ends 5e, 5f in order to be able to lie against the limbs 3a and 4a respectively and be welded thereto.
In the exemplified embodiment illustrated in
A perspective view of a strut pair with such struts 5 is illustrated in
Alternatively to the X-shaped arrangement illustrated in
Of course, the crane 1 can be designed not only as a single-girder crane but also as a dual-girder crane (
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PCT/EP2016/052566 | 2/5/2016 | WO | 00 |
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WO2016/124773 | 8/11/2016 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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Preliminary Report on Patentability of the International Searching Authority in English from corresponding Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Application No. PCT/EP2016/052566, completed May 29, 2017. |
International Search Report of the International Searching Authority from corresponding Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Application No. PCT/EP2016/052566, indicated completed on Apr. 21, 2016. |
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority from corresponding Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Application No. PCT/EP2016/052566, indicated completed on Aug. 11, 2016. |
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Commonly assigned co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 15/547,651, filed Jul. 31, 2017, entitled Crane, In Particular Bridge Crane or Gantry Crane, Having at Least One Crane Girder. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20180022582 A1 | Jan 2018 | US |